Safety-strap for rubber or other shoes



(No Model.)

0. G. KING.

SAFETY STRAP FOR RUBBER OR OTHER SHOES. No. 338,981. I Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OREN G. KING, OF NEWVARK, OHIO.

SAFETY-STRAP FOR RUBBER OR OTHER SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 310,338,981, dated March 30, 1886.

Application filed February 4, 1886. Serial No. 190,838. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OREN G. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Straps for Rubber and other Shoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an overshoe with the safety strap or band attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the safetystrap attached to a low-cut shoe. Fig. 3 are cross-sections of the shoe through the strap or band. Fig. 4 shows one form of using the device, the strap or band passing over the instep. Fig. 5 shows another form of using the strap or band by passing it over the heel. Fig. 6 is a perspective view in detail, showing the strap folded down on the shank.

The object of this invention is to provide an overshoe with means whereby it can, when desired, be more securely fastened upon the boot or shoe than is possible from the natural elasticity of a rubber or gum shoe; also, to provide a cheap and durable means for securing a shoe on the foot.

It has been found very desirable in places where at some seasons of the year there is deep mud, whereby the heel of the shoe is sometimes drawn off, or where the snow is sometimes so crusty as to perform the same office by reason of the icy edges of the crust engaging on the upper rim of the gum shoe, or where a person has occasion to use a shoe a little too loose on the foot, and in other like instances, to provide means whereby the shoe can be securely bound on or attached to the boot, shoe, or foot. This desideratum is so great that many devices have been invented to accomplish the above end. In some instances a strap having suitable holes at one end and a strap having a buckle have been employed; but while these answer in a general way a good purpose there has been found some difficulty in attaching the perforated strap and the one that holds the buckle to the shoe or overshoe. It has also been found quite inconvenient to use the perforated strap and the strap having the buckle with an overshoe, especially when the fingers are cold. It has also been attempted to use an independent rubber or elastic band attached at its ends to buttons on each upper edge of the open sides of the shoe or overshoe; but this construction is not perfect, because the strap or band is not permanently attached to the shoe, and consequently is often separated from the overshoe when the overshoe is off the foot. Beside this, even when the edge of the overshoe is reenforced to afford a stay for the buttons to which the ends of the elastic are fastened, the strain would sooner or later tear out the edge of the shoe.

My present invention will in a very great degree, if not entirely, overcome the above objections,and afford means whereby the over shoe or shoe can be thus additionally bound upon the foot, or,when such a use is not desired, can be put away out of sight, so that the overshoe or shoe will have the appearance of an ordinary overshoe or shoe; also in my invention the means whereby the shoe is thus addr tionally bound on the foot is so firmly and securely attached to the overshoe or shoe as to be as durable generally as the shoe or overshoe itself; and in carrying out all this the attaching device can be very easily brought up over the foot, boot, or shoe of the wearer or released therefrom without the slightest inconvenience.

Having now set forth the nature and object of my invention, I will explain in detail how it is carried out.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes any ordinary shoe or overshoe. To the sole B of this overshoe, at the instep or shank, is secured the elastic safety strap or band 0. This band 0 may be a continuous one, and by passing the loop thus formed between the insole l3 and sole B at the shank of the shoe or overshoe it can be then secured in place by sewing, cement, or in any desired way. This strap or band forms a loop of a suitable size to be easily brought over the foot, or the boot or shoe adapted to the size of the overshoe, but at the same time the strap or band will fit tightly over the instep, and thus insure the retention of the shoe upon the foot, shoe, or boot under any strain that can come from the suction caused by the mud on the bottom or heel, or from the icy edges of snow-crust, or

from the large size of the shoe, or from any cause.

To adjust the strap or band over the instep, it is only necessary to hold it wit-h the thumb and finger a little distended when the foot, boot, or shoe is being placed in the shoe or overshoe. \Vhen the overshoe is on,the strap or band is all ready to be adjusted over the instep or heel. WVhen the strap or band is not needed, it can remain on the sole of the shoe or overshoe, and under the instep of the foot or the shank of the boot or shoe, and not at all inconimode the wearer.

If desired, the strap or band can be so fitted as to allow of its being brought over the heel so as to rest on the tendon Achilles, and in this way will be almost out of sight, but will have nearly, if not fully, the same binding force as when the strap or band is brought over the instep.

If desired, the band can be secured to the upper part of the insole, or, where there is no insole, upon the insideof the sole, or instead of a continuous band a loop can be made of a single piece of elastic, the ends of which can be secured between the soles, or on the sole or insole, as has been above described.

It will be noted that this invention is not only applicable to overshoes, but also to lowquarter shoes, slippers, &c. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I consider new, and desire to seeureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A shoe or overshoe provided with an elastic retaining strap or band secured inside to the sole and adapted to be brought over the instep or heel of the wearer, substantially as described.

2. A shoe or overshoe provided with an elastic retaining-strap made of a single piece and secured inside to the shank of the shoe, whereby when not in use it can befolded out of sight.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

OREN G. KlNG.

Vitnesses:

XVM. L. PROUT, FRED L. J ONES. 

